The last time the two teams played each other was in the opening match of the Paris Olympics, then our team took the lead at the beginning, then they held their own and lost by only three goals, 31-28. The French are the group match of the 2010 European Championship in Lillehammer, so they have defeated the Hungarian national team every time for 14 years now, but since they have only caught up to the world elite in the last two decades, the head-to-head record still shows a significant Hungarian advantage: 31 wins, 2 draws and 22 defeats.
The Hungarian team traveled to France without four stable members: Viktória Győri-Lukács, Katrin Klujber and Kinga Janurik were rested, while Blanka Böde-Bíró stayed home due to a minor injury.
Thanks to the feats of Zsófi Szemerey, the Hungarian national team pulled away at the beginning of the match, 5-2, then 8-4, and even led by six goals, 15-9, before the break, the French went up 15-12.
After the turnaround, there was quickly only one goal left (14-15), but then Szemerey made sure to increase the difference again. The last ten minutes began with a Hungarian lead of 26-22, and although the French temporarily got up to one goal (27-28), Szemerey saved his teammate Bouktit’s seven, from the counterattack a third Metz player Petra Vámos scored a goal, then Simon Petra set the final score (27-30).
It is interesting that the two Metz legionnaires, Szemerey and six-goaler Vámos, were the two best of the Hungarian national team, and Szemerey proved himself to the French, as he gets few opportunities in Metz. It is also worth mentioning the right winger from Debrecen, Grosch Vivien, who made his debut in the Hungarian national team with two goals.
“I am very happy.” To be honest, I don’t think I’ve played as much in the last five weeks as I do now. I’m very happy that I was able to show it, especially in this country, where I don’t get that many opportunities at the moment. I hope this was a good answer, I thank the girls, because I received a lot of positive feedback from them and they encouraged me a lot – Zsófi Szemerey was understandably enthused after the meeting.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday, the venue of that meeting will be Tremblay-en-France, near Paris.
France-Hungary 27-30 (12-15), Hungarian scorers: Vámos 6, Faluvégi 5, Kuczora, Márton 4-4, Simon 3, Papp, Juhász, Grosch 2-2, Füzi-Tóvizi, Kácsor 1-1.
Summary of the Olympic match between the two teams:
Source: magyarnemzet.hu
